Mercy's POVThe crown didn't stop bleeding.It ran down my fingers, warm, then cold, then warm again, like it couldn't decide what it wanted to be."The first moon cannot take the throne unless she kills the king," Azrael said again, slower this time, like he wanted every person in that room to understand exactly what he meant.Nobody moved.The king's black eyes found mine."He's lying.""I'm not," Azrael said. "Ask Kaelen."Kaelen didn't answer. He just looked at the floor, and that was answer enough.Timothee's hand tightened around mine."Don't listen to him.""Timothee.""I mean it, Mercy. Don't."I looked at the king. Really looked at him. The blade was still in his hand, hanging loose now, forgotten. His crown, the real one, the one he'd worn my whole life without me knowing what it cost, sat crooked on his head.He looked smaller than I remembered."You knew," I said. "This whole time. You knew what I was.""I knew what you could become.""And you tried to kill me anyway.""I
Last Updated : 2026-08-27 Read more